Aeroplane safety device



` S. ARRINGTON;y

`AEROPLANE SAFETY DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG: l, 1.921. V V s 1,408,062, v rammed Feb. z8, 1922.

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S.';ARR|NGTON;

AEROPLANE SAFETY DEVICE. APLICATION FILED AUG I. 1921.

1,408,062. Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

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AEROPLANE SAFETY DEVICE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

Application filed August 1, 1921. Serial No. 488,780.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that l, SAM-UL ARRINGTON, citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, lhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplane Safety Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates tol parachutes intended more particularly for use in connection with aeroplanes, each aeroplane being preferably equipped with a number of the parachutes.

rllhe invention has for a novel type of parachute, and further, to provide a 'series of parachutes of which one is substantially at the centre of gravity of the aeroplane, the different parachutes being so arranged that the said central parachute will open in advance ofthe others.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various y novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1. of the drawings is a diagrammatic plan view of an aeroplane equipped with a number of my improved parachutes, the latter being indicated in open position.

Fig, 2. is an elevation, with parts broken away, of one of the parachutes.

Fig. 3. is a vertical section on the vline 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. is a horizontal section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5. is a fragmentary vertical section showing particularly the means whereby opening of the central parachute causes the others to'open, this view being taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1. of the drawings the reference numeral 10 indicates the body of a biplane and 11 the top plane. Upon this top plane 11, is mounted over the body 10, a relatively large parachute indicated in general at P. Grouped around this central parachute are four smaller ones indicated generally at p, two of these being mounted adjacent the ends of plane 11, and two on the body 10 one in front and one in the rear of' such plane.

Each of these parachutes comprises a central standard or post 15 projecting rigidly upward from a bracket element 16, the latan object to provide ter being adapted to be secured to the part on which the parachute 1s mounted. To the upper end of post 15 is fixed a head 17 to which a number of metal ribs 18 are pivotally attached at one end. rlhese ribs have a suitable cloth member 19 secured thereon. Hinged at one end to the metal ribs 18, approximately midway between the ends of the latter, are struts 2O whose opposite ends connect pivotally to a collar 21 slidable on vthe post 15. Fixed at opposite ends to the head 17 and collar 21 is a tension spring 22, while an expansion spring 23 bears between the collar and the bracket 16, these springs surrounding the post 15 and both acting on the collar 21 to open thc parachute.

rlfhe parachute is locked in its closed po sition by means of a latch 25 fulcrumed as at 26 to the bracket 16 and having a hooked upper end adapted to engage in an eye member 27 carried by the collar 21. rThe latch- 25 is yadapted to be released by means of a solenoid 28v suitably mounted in the bracket 16 and having its plunger connected to said latch. To close the parachute I provide a rope 30 which is connected to the ycollar 21 and passes downward through suitable guides 31 to a drum 32 ixed on a shaft VY33 mounted in the bracket 16, one end of the shaft 33 presenting a square socket 34 adapted to receive a suitable crank for turning -the shaft 33. Pivoted to the bracket 16 at 37 is a. second latch 38 which has a hooked end adapted to engage in a suitable socket in the end of the drum 32 to hold the latter against rotation. A tail-piece 25 on'latch 25 bears against latch 38. The parachutes may be braced by means of guy ropes A4() connected to the tops of the posts 15.

The different parachutes, as so far described, are all alike. ln addition the central parachute P carries a circuit closing device illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and adapted to close a circuit through the solenoids of the other parachutes' when the central one has reached, or nearly reached, open position. As'here shown an angular contact arm 45 is pivoted in the collar 21 and is pressed by a spring 46 against the post 15. Seated in the latter, at the proper height, is a contact 47 adapted to be engaged by the cont-act 45. A wire 48 connects, by .means of the angular element 49, to the contact arm 45, while a wire 50 leads upward through the post le from the contact 47.

The electrical connections are shown in Fig. l, 'the wire 48 being connected to one side of a battery 52, While the Wire is branched as at 53 to the solenoids of the parachutes p, returns 54 from the said solenoids leading back to the other side of battery 52. The solenoidof parachute P is placed in a separate circuit, indicated generally at 55 and controlled by a hand switch 5G placed in easy reach of the pilot.

In the use of the device, when the parachutes are to be opened the pilot closes key 56, energizing the solenoid of parachute P and releasing the latch 25 from the collar 2l, While-at the same time the tail-piece 25 of this latch bears on the latch 38 and frees the drum 32. The parachute is then opened by springs 22 and 23 When contact arm 45 on collar 21 engages Contact 47 on post l5, the solenoids of the other parachutes are energized and the latter caused to open.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new land desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

l. In an aeroplane, a parachute located above the centre of gravity of the aeroplanek and a series of parachutes grouped around said parachute, and means for first Vopening all of said parachutes, the means for opening the last named series of parachutes being controlled by the opening of the first parachute.

2. In an aeroplane, a parachute located above the centre of gravity of the aeroplane, and a series of parachutes 'grouped around said first parachute, and means for first opening said first parachute and then the other parachutes, said means including members adapted for automatic actuation when the first parachute opens.

3. In an aeroplane, a parachute located above the centres of gravity of the aeroplane, and a series of parachutes grouped around said first parachute, and means for first opening said first parachute and then the other parachutes, said means including springs for opening said parachutes, latches holding said springs in closed position, solenoids for releasing the latches, a hand switch for closing the circuit to the 'solenoid of the first parachute and a switch closed by opening -movement of the first parachute for closing the circuit to the solenoids of the other parachutes. Y

4. A parachute comprising a post, a parachute proper mounted on said post, a collar slidable on ,said post and adapted to open and close said parachute by movement therealong, springs urging said collar to position with the parachute open, a latch engaging said collar to hold the parachute closed, and a solenoid for releasing said latch, a rope attached to said collar, a Winding drum for said rope, and a latch holding said drum against rotation, said first latch being adapted to releaseV said second latch when moved by said solenoid.

5. A parachute comprising a post, aparachute proper mounted on said-post, a collar slidable on said post and adapted to open and close said parachute by movement therealong, springs urging said collar to position, with the parachute open, a latch engaging said collar to position with the parachute closed,- and a solenoid for releasing said latch, a rope attached tosaid collar, a Winding drum for said rope, and a latch holding said drum against rotation, said first latch having a tail-piece adapted to engage and release said second latch when the first latch is released.

6. In an aeroplane, a parachute located above the centre of gravity of the aeroplane, a series of parachutes grouped around the first parachute, said first parachute comprising aA post, a collar slidable on said post and adapted to open and close said parachute by movement therealong, latches hold'- ing said series of parachutes against opening movement, solenoids controlling said latches,

a fixed contact member on said post, a con'- tact member on said collar adapted to engage the fixed contact member when the first parachute reaches open position, said contact members being adapted to close a circuit through said solenoids when in engagement with one another.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

sAMUL ARRINGTON. 

